Meta on Thursday said it had laid off 20 workers for leaking information to the media, as the social media giant faces pressure over the recent political shift of its boss Mark Zuckerberg towards US President Donald Trump.

“We tell employees when they join the company, and we offer periodic reminders, that it is against our policies to leak internal information, no matter the intent,” a Meta spokesperson said, confirming a story first reported in The Verge.

“We recently conducted an investigation that resulted in roughly 20 employees being terminated for sharing confidential information outside the company, and we expect there will be more,” the company added.

“We take this seriously, and will continue to take action when we identify leaks.”

The round of firings came following a recent series of reports based on Zuckerberg’s meetings with employees.

In one meeting, first reported by The Verge, Zuckerberg told employees he would no longer be forthcoming with information because “we try to be really open and then everything I say leaks. It sucks.”

He also warned them to “buckle up” for the coming year and said that Meta would be a productive partner with the White House.

Tech leaders have broadly fallen in line around Trump since he won the election in November, with Zuckerberg making a particular turn towards the Republican since his return to office.

Zuckerberg has multiplied his advances towards Trump, who last summer threatened the tech tycoon with life imprisonment after Meta excluded the president from Facebook in January 2021 for encouraging the assault on the Capitol.

The CEO and founder has dined with the Republican on several occasions, donated to the president’s inauguration fund, eased up on content moderation, and ended Facebook’s US fact-checking program in an effort to draw closer to the new Republican leadership in Washington.

His longtime political affairs boss was also replaced by a prominent Republican, and he named Trump ally Dana White to his board after the US election.

The measures align with the conservative views of the president and his allies, as well as masculinist entertainers and personalities like Elon Musk.

On the Joe Rogan podcast, Zuckerberg complained that “a lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered” and that embracing masculine energy “is good.”

AFP

A South-West group under the aegis of Mekunnu Koya has expressed strong support for the Lagos State House of Assembly members’ right to impeach the ex-speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, while condemning the oppression and suppression of the Lagos people.

The organisation in a statement issued on Friday, which was jointly signed its Convener and Public Relations Officer, Wale Balogun John Ayodele respectively, believes that the assembly members have the inalienable right to impeach the ex-speaker, citing allegations of misappropriation of funds and gun running.

“We unequivocally reiterate that the Lagos State House of Assembly members have the inalienable right to impeach the ex-speaker, and we support their decision,” said the group.

The group also criticised the President’s directive to reinstate Obasa, calling it “dictatorial” and “against all democratic ethos.”

The organisation emphasised that the Lagos State House of Assembly is an independent arm of government that has the right to elect and impeach its principal officers without interference.

“It is time for Lagosians to take their destiny into their own hands and resist the continuous dehumanisation and exploitation by the ruling elite,” the statement noted.

Mekunnu Koya further condemned the oppression of Lagos people, alleging that they are being subjected to hardships and poverty due to anti-poor policies.

“We believe that it is time for Lagosians to breathe and be free from the Tinubu-led GAC’s overbearing influence in decision-making,” the group stated.

The statement titled: “political brigandage on the rise: GAC illegality must stop in lagos politics now” partly read: “Political gladiators are heating up the polity in Rivers, Kano, kaduna. Lagos and Osun states are also undergoing turmoil that endanger the lives and property of the common man for self-centered political interests.

“It is unfortunate that innocent lives were lost in the ruling elites imbroglio, while the government of APC have failed in it’s fundamental responsibilities to secure the lives and properties of the people. The government has subjected people into hardships and poverty, making lives miserable due to the anti poor policies in which the common man bear the brunt.

“MEKUNNU KOYA frowned at the victimisation, oppression, exploitations intimidation of Lagosians by the principalities and alpha and omega of Lagos politics. This organisation believes it is time for Lagosians to take their destiny into their palms to resist continuous dehumanisation and reclaim their dignity.

“The legislature as an independent arm of government has every right without unnecessary interference to elect and impeach their principal officers if and whenever the need arises. It was members of the Lagos state house of assembly that elected Obasa and other principal officers of the house in their wisdom and they also reserve the right to remove him whenever he could no longer serve the purpose he was elected for.

“However, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa is galivanting and rubbishing his impeachment as mere “comedy” because he has the backing of the first lady Remi Tinubu whose husband has since given members of the house directives to reinstate the impeached speaker. The president directive is dictatorial and against all democratic ethos. It should be noted that the impeached speaker overbearing influence is deemed dangerous for the Lagos State House of Assembly statutory legislative functions.

“Obasa’s arrogance as a demi-god in LSHA is because of the cult-like relationship and support he has from the powers that call the shots in Lagos politics. This is why his misconduct and misappropriation of funds as alleged by his colleagues who impeached him meant nothing to the lion of Bordillon who gave directive for his reinstatement.

“Constitutionally the LSHA as an independent arm of government represents and articulate the yearning, aspirations and interests of their constituency who elected them, but a pathetic reverse is the case in Lagos because members of the LSHA are being dictated to by those who imposed them on party faithfuls as their candidates.”

The group regretted that lack of internal democracy has emboldened the vested interests that imposed them to interfere more often than not in the discharge of the house constitutional responsibilities.

“Why on earth should Obasa misapplication and stealing of more than #6billion be swept under the carpet aside the gun running allegations given the arms cache found in his office by operatives of the DSS and the Nigeria police,” the questioned.

“MEKUNNU KOYA is in support of the Assembly members inalienable right to impeach the ex-speaker. We condemn the Godfathers illegal usurpation of the LSHA powers in running the affairs of the state through an illegal Governor Advisory Council. GAC is a political aberration, an illegality that Lagosians should resist from dictating to their duly elected representatives.

“GAC should stop unnecessary and illegal interference in the LSHA legislative duties. If GAC members thinks they have fundamental ideas for the progress of Lagos state, they should contest for elections to enjoy the mandate of the people.

“Mekunnu Koya unequivocally reiterate that Lagosians must breath and be free from Tinubu led GAC’s overbearing influence in decision making.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

EX-Chief of Defence Training and Planning, General Ishola Williams (rtd), has contradicted claims made in the recently released autobiography of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, stating that Babangida had already prepared General Sani Abacha to take over before the co

Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television, Gen Williams dismissed Babangida’s claim that he had not planned for Abacha’s takeover.

He revealed that IBB referred to Abacha as ‘Khalipha’, signaling his intent for him to be his successor.

“Gen Babangida forgot to mention that he used to call Gen Abacha the Khalipha, which meant that one way or the other, he was encouraging Gen Abacha to succeed him,” Williams stated.

A Question IBB Refused To Answer
Williams also disclosed a private midnight conversation with Babangida in Minna, where he directly asked him about an agreement with Abacha.

He said, “I asked him: ‘Did you have a blood oath with Abacha that he would succeed you?’ But he refused to answer. This was in Minna, one-on-one, at the Presidential Guest House.”

The former General further recounted a meeting where civilian governors urged Babangida to remain in power. Shortly after, he personally advised IBB to ignore them and hand over to a civilian government.

“I wrote to IBB in August 1993, saying the best thing for the military was to return power to civilians.

“When he stepped aside, I was Commander in Minna, and we had prepared to receive him with full military honors,” Williams added.

Abacha’s Sudden Takeover
According to Gen Williams, after Babangida’s exit, Abacha flew into Minna, met with Babangida, and changed all the service chiefs.

Williams said, “He (IBB) had appointed new service chiefs, and when they told me, I warned them they wouldn’t last long. Shortly after, Abacha came in and replaced them all.”

Gen Williams disclosed that before the interim government was established, a secret meeting was held among top military officers, with the late Attorney General, Clement Akpamgbo, as the only civilian present.

“When the discussion started about June 12, I was shocked. I thought we came to discuss the handover process, not an annulment,” he said.

He added that Gen Abacha dismissed his concerns, saying, “Ishola, don’t talk like that.” However, Williams insisted that the annulment had no legitimate basis.

Transition Government Was Designed For Abacha
Williams also revealed that the decree setting up the transitional government under Ernest Shonekan was designed to be a mere formality, paving the way for Abacha’s eventual takeover.

“I said we don’t need the transitional government, but it was ruled out. The whole decree was planned in such a way so that Abacha could take over,” he explained.

The revelations by Gen Williams add another layer of controversy to Babangida’s 420-page memoir, ‘A Journey in Service’, which was launched at a high-profile event in Abuja on February 20, 2025.